Apparatus for testing cylinders



March 12, 1946. J. E. LONGLEY APPARATUS FOR TESTING GYLINDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 12,1946. J. E. LoNGLl-:Y

APPARATUS FoR"TEsTING CYLINDERS Filed Janv. 24, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

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March 12, 1946.

J. E. LONGLEY APPARATUS FOR TESTING GYLINDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 24, 1945 w, ci. /wy

Patented Mar. 12, 1946 2,396,380 APPARATUS non TESTING- CYLINDERS .l ames Edward Longley, Verona, N. J., assignorto Lock Joint Pipe Company, a corporation of New Jersey East Orange, N. J.,

Application January `2li, 1945, Serial No. 574,407

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing cylinders, pipes and tubes and other openended sleeve-like structures. Among the objects of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive testing apparatus which is simple in construction and economical to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder testing apparatus requiring but small amounts of compressed uid and with which a cylinder can be quickly tested.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively' iight structure for restraining the pressure at the ends of the cylinder being tested.

To this end the apparatus employs annular gaskets to seal an enclosed annular space immediately within the cylinder being tested.

Further and other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter from the following description in which the principle of the invention and the best mode in which'I have contemplated applying the same is disclosed.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a cylinder testing apparatus, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the sealing arrangement at the supported end of the testing apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section `of the sealing arrangement at the free end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a modified 4form of apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 'I-'I of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6, showing parts broken away.

The apparatus includes a'tubular member i which is preferably of the same sectional configuration as the section of the cylinder or other tubular device which is to be tested. Its crosssecti'onal yarea with respect to the internal area of the cylinder to be tested is only suiciently less to permit mounting the cylinder outside of the tubular member and leave sufficient clearance between the two to permit the introduction of water, air or other fluid.

The tubular member serves as part of a core upon which the cylinder to be tested is mounted.' This core is supported at oneend by a frame structure includinga box 2 'which rests upon sills 3 and 4. The frame structure also includes a ring 5, a brace lE fastened to one end 'of box 2 f and to ring 5 and other structural members "I, B and 9 by which the core is secured to the box. The core overhangs and extends beyond the frame member which is suitably weighted by material, such as concrete, scrap iron, etc., which is carried in the box. The frame member and contents support the core clear of the ground.

The apparatus is intended for determining whether or not there are any leaks in cylinders, pipes, tubes or other sleeve-like structures. In Fig. 1 I have shown a cylinder ID of a iform which is commonly employed in the construction of concrete pipes. This sleeve consists of a rolled sheet of plate steel which has its ends abutting and forming a longitudinal seam. This seam is welded. The ends of the cylinder include joint rings II and I2 which are respectively welded to the sleeve throughout their circumferences. While the form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is such as to support a pipe cylinder of a given construction, it will be apparent that any form of tubular construction may be tested with the apparatus of this invention, including one-piece tubes of uniform wall thickness throughout their lengths.

The core includes tubular member I and end rings I3 and I4 which telescopingly engage the tubular member and are welded thereto entirely around their circumferences. End ring i3 is supported from ring 5 and carries a ring I5 which is attached to the end ring and serves as an abutment for gasket I6 which encircles the end ring. A plurality of sloping pieces I'I uniformly distributed about the circumference of the core serve as ramps to guidethe inner end of the 'cylinder I0 over ring I5 when the cylinder is being mounted upon the apparatus.

The free end of the core supports a removable ring I9 which bears against a shouldei` 20 on the end ring I4 when the apparatus is assembled for testing. Ring I9 serves as a wall against which gasket 2l is compressed during a testing operation. A pair of gland rings or followers 22 and 23 serve to compress gaskets I6 and 2|,

respectively. The gasket may consist of closed rings of rubber or of any other suitable gasket material. Gasket I6 is conned between end ring I3 and the interior of the cylinder to lbe 'tested and between rings I5 and 22. Gasket 2I is conned between ring I4 and the interior of the cylinder to be tested and between removable ring I9 and follower 23. It is an advantage of the construction that the pressure of the testing iiuid against each gasket of the apparatus is `distributed over a relatively narrow annular area corresponding approximately to the crosssectional area of the space between the core and the cylinder being tested.

The core is braced against inward collapse by means of a plurality of stiffening rings 24, 25, which are spaced along its interior.

Gland ring 22 has a number of slots through which guide pins 26 extend. These pins and slots permit movement of the gland ringlongitudinallyof the core and into compression with gasket I6. A plurality of rods 28, 29 are secured at their left ends to gland ring 22, Figs. 1 and 4. These rods extend through the core and pass through holes in brackets 30, 3|, which are xed to the core. The right-hand ends of these rods, Figs. 1, 2 and 5, are engaged by eye-bolts 32, 33, 34 and 35. The eye-bolts are adapted to extend through slots 36 in lugs 31, 38, 39 and 40 which are carried by gland ring 23. The construction is such that when the nuts on the ends of the eye-bolts are loosened or removed, the eyebolts may be swung from engagement with the lugs to enable the removal of gland ring 23, gasket 2| and removable ring I9.

The apparatus as shown in Fig. l is in assembled condition with the cylinder l mounted thereon and ready for testing. The pipe 43 extends into the interior of the Core and is tapped into its wall at 44, whereby water or other fluid medium may be introduced in the space 45 between the core and the cylinder. Pipe 43 has connected therewith a water supply conduit 46 and a drain 41, with valvesby which the water may be iiowed into or from pipe 63 and space 45. Pipe 43 is preferably located at the lowest portion of the core so as to enable draining of water or of other fluid from the space around the core. The lling and voiding operations are controlled by valves in conduits 46 and 41.

A pipe 48 is provided for permitting the escape of air from space'45 during a lling operation. This pipe is within the core and has a tapped connection therewith at 49 and an outlet through pipe 56. When the space 45 is entirely lled, valve l is closed and the pressure is built up to the desired amount. A gauge 52 provides a means for determining the amount of pressure within the cylinder.

In using the apparatus, the cylinder to be tested is slipped into position and slid along the core until the ends of the cylinder are over` the end rings I3 and |41. Ring l5 and removable ring I9 center the cylinder on the core. Gasket 2| is then mounted in place and gland ring 23 is placed into position against the gasket. The eye-bolts are then adjusted and tightened, with the result that the gland rings 22 and 23 exert pressure upon the gaskets which are distended against their enclosing surfaces, including the interior of the cylinder. If water is used it is introduced to the space 45 between the cylinder and the core until the space is filled. Pressure oi the confined water is run up to the desired testing pressure. pressure the entire surface of the cylinder may be inspected for leakage. v

At the conclusion of a testing operation the water is voided by opening the valve in the drain line. Upon removing the gland ring 23 the cylinder is readily removable from the end of the apparatus. This gland ring or follower is of light construction and can be easily handled. rBecause of the relatively small volume of water which is needed to make the test, the apparatus can be quickly iilled and emptied and the test completed in a relatively short time. If compressed air is used for testing purposes, dangers attending the use of large volumes of compressed air are eliminated.

A modification of the testing apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. This includes a core 53 and a support 5d which are similar in construction to the core and support previously described. The core is internally braced by sets of rings 55 and radial spokes 56. In thisapparatus no means is provided for increasing the compression of the gasket at the supported end of the core once the cylinder 51 has been mounted into position. Gasket 51 is mounted between a pair of rings 58 and 59 which, together with the exterior of the core, provide a gasket-receiving groove. The arrangement is such that the groove is of xed dimensions and sealing is obtained by slipping the end of the cylinder 51 over the gasket. K

The unsupported end of core 53 has mounted on its exterior a ring 56 which serves as an abutment for one side of a gasket 5|. A follower ring 62 has a male portion projecting inwardly of the core and providing only a slight clearance between itself and the inner wall of the core, whereby the follower ring may be slid longitudinally of the core The follower is pro-vided with means in the form of a sloping surface B4 which forces the gasket into tight compression against the interior surface of the cylinder51 and against abutment ring 56, so as to seal the space 65 between the core and the cylinder.

When a cylinder is in position for testing the follower 62 is held in its operating position by a set of eye-bolts 55, 61, 63 and 69. Eye-bolts 65 and 6B are fastened to pins 15 and 1|, respectively, which extend between the flanges of a pair of angle irons 1E, 13. Similar pairs of angle irons 14 and 15, extending at right angles to the rstmentioned pair, support pins to which eye-bolts 61 and 69 are connected. The angle irons are secured together by a plate 1d. The ends of al1 of the angle irons are secured to the interior of the core by welding and thus serve as further additional bracing for the core, as well as means for supporting the follower 62. The follower has lugs 16, one for each of the eye-bolts. The eyebolts may be swung on their1 pins through slots 11 when the nuts 1S are loosened or removed therefrom. The follower E52 is removable from the end of the core upon disengaging the eye- I bolts.

While maintained under this Space 65 between the core and the cylinder may be filled by the introduction of water through conduit 19 and valve 8i! which have connection with a water supply (not shown). A conduit connection 8| and a suitable valve means 62 are provided for draining the annular space 65 at the conclusion of a testing operation. Pipe 83, having connection with annular space 55, serves as a vent for permitting the escape of air from the top of that Space during a lling operation, and also provides means for connecting space 65 with suitable indicating or recording means for indicating the amount of pressure. If it is desired to use compressed air for testing purposes this may be introduced through conduit 83 and when this is done valves ilo and S2 are maintained closed.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for testing hollow cylinders, the combination comprising a hollow core having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of a cylinder to be tested, means supporting said core in cantilever fashion from one end of said core. a gasket encircling said core at the supported end thereof, an annular wall extending outwardly from said core and having an outer daimeter slightly less than the inner diameter of a cyl-'nder to be tested. said annular wall being located to counter thrust from said gasket, when in compression, in a direction longitudinally of said core, a follower ring for bearing upon the side of said gasket opposite from said annular wall, said gasket being enclosed for compression between said annular wall, follower, the exterior surface of said core, and the interior of a cylinder to be tested, a removable abutment ring mounted exterorly of said core at its distal end and having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of a cylinder to be tested, said abutment ring being located for countering thrust from a second gasket, a second gasket encircling the exterior of said core at its distal end and disposed adjacent said removable ring, means cooperating with said core and removable ring for limiting the movement of said removable ring away from said second gasket, a second follower for engaging the side of said second gasket opposite from said removable ring, said second gasket being enclosed for compression between said removable ring, second follower, the exterior surface of said core, and the interior of a cylinder to be tested, adjustable means connecting said rst and second followers whereby said followers may be simultaneously displaced to exert pressure on said first and second gaskets to seal the extremities of the annular space between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon by compression of said gaskets within their respective enclosures at the ends of the cylinder, and means for introducing fluid to the annular space between said core and a cylinder.

2. In apparatus for testing hollow cylinders, the combination comprising a hollow core having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of a cylinder to be tested, means supporting said core from one end a pair of abutment rings mounted on the outside of said core, one at each end of said core, and defining the longitudinal limits of an annular space between the exterior of said core and a cylinder mounted thereon, the abutment ring at the distal end oi said core being removable for facilitating mounting a cylinder over said core, a gasket` disposed against the off-side of each of said abutment rings and encircling said core, followers mounted for movement on said core for engaging with said gaskets at either end of said core, means carried by said core for pressing said followers into engagement with said gaskets and whereby each gasket is compressed between its associated abutment ring and follower, the exterior surface of said core and the interior surface of a cylinder to be tested for sealing the ends of an annular space between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon, and means for introducing fluid to the annular space between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon for testing.

3. In apparatus for testing ho-llow cylinders, the combination comprising a hollow core having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of a cylinder to be tested, means secured to one end of said core for supporting the same, means forming an annular wall for locating a gasket at the supported end of said core, means forming an annular wall for locating a second gasket at the distal end of said core, said rst and second wall-forming means having outside diameters greater than the exterior diameter of said core and slightly less 'than the interior diameter of a cylinder to be tested whereby an annular space is provided between said core and said cylinder, a pair of gaskets encircling said core, one of said gaskets being located adjacent said first wall-forming means and the other of said gaskets being located adjacent said second wall-forming means, slidable followers mounted at either end of said core, one at the outer side of said first-named wall-forming means and adjacent gasket, and one at the outer side of said second wall-forming means and adjacent gasket, means including tie-rods extending through said hollow core and connecting together said slidable followers, means for adjusting the tension in said rods for exerting pressure on said gaskets whereby said annular space between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon for testing is sealed at its ends by compression of said gaskets, and means for introducing fluid to the annular space between said gaskets and between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon for testing.

4. In apparatus for testing hollow cylinders, the combination comprising, a hollow core having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of a cylinder to `be tested, means supporting said hollow core from one end, a deformable gasket encircling said hollow core at its supported end, means locating said gasket and forming a groove over the surface of said hollow core for containing said gasket, a second gasket abutting the distal end of said hollow core, a follower ring supported at the distal end of said hollow core and having a radial flange extending beyond the inner diameter of a cylinder to be tested, said follower ring having a surface for engaging and compressing said second gasket against the end of said hollow core and the inner surface of a cylinder mounted thereon, adjustable means carried by said hollow core and supporting said follower ring in compressing contact with said second gasket, means within said hollow core for bracing its wall against collapse under pressure exerted by uid contained in the annular space between said core and a cylinder mounted thereon and between said gaskets, and means for introducing fluid to said annular space.

JAMES EDWARD LONGLEY. 

